Pliers type wrench



Aug. 22, 1967 J. B. YORK v 3 336,;824

PLIERS TYPE WRENCH Filed April 15, 1966 1 1 v v 2 s eews g t 1 JOHNBURTON YORK I ATTORNEY,

, INVENTOR Au .22,1967 B, YORK 3,336,524.

PLIERS TYPE WRENCH Filed April 15, 1966 2 Shecs-Sheet :3

IINVENTOR BYLV "JQIHNIBURTON YO K.

ATTORNEY I United States Patent 3,336,824 PLIERS TYPE WRENCH John BurtonYork, 4801 42nd Ave., Sacramento, Calif. 95824 Filed Apr. 13, 1966, Ser.No. 549,098 6 Claims. (Cl. 81361) The present invention relates to apliers type wrench and it consists in the combinations, constructionsand arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described and claimed, andis a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 349,579, filed Mar.5, 1964, now abandoned.

Generally there is provided a pliers type wrench having a fixed jawincluding a handle to which is pivotally mounted a movable handle havinga bifurcated extension. A movable jaw is slidably associated with thefixed jaw and is movable by the aforesaid extension. A pair ofsemi-cylindrical bearing members are mounted in recesses formed in themovable jaw with their flat faces slidably engaged with opposite sidesof a transversely extending projection on the fixed jaw. The device issuch that the opposed gripping faces of the two jaws move in parallelrelation to each other at all times and provide a secure grip upon allpossible sizes of nuts within a wide range including foreign made nutssuch as are used on foreign automobiles and the like. The bearingmembers referred to are offset from one another and assist inmaintaining the two jaws of the wrench in parallel relation at alltimes. A spring normally maintains the two handles and consequently thetwo jaws apart.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel plierstype Wrench consisting of a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, novel means for maintaining the working jawsthereof in parallel relation to each other at all times.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, novel bearing members forming a part of theinvention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device ofthe character set forth, a novel assembly of a fixed and movable jawwhich assembly forms a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a single tool of thecharacter set forth, a device which gives the convenience of a pair ofpliers and the holding and gripping power of a wrench.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention illustratingthe same in opened condition,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view thereof,

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fixed and amovable jaw both forming parts of the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the wrench inpartially closed condition, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the device illustratedin FIGURE 1 but further illustrating a formula which is utilized in themanufacture of wrenches of the character set forth.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein awrench of the character set forth having a fixed jaw 10 having anintermediate body portion 11 integral therewith and a rearwardlyextending in tegrally formed handle 12.

A movable jaw 13 is provided on its inner face with a transverse groove14. A circular opening 15 extends through the movable jaw 13 centrallyof the groove 14. At each side of the groove 14 the movable jaw 13 isprovided with a substantially semi-circular recess 16 for the slidablereception therein, in each case, of a semicylindrical bearing member 17the fiat surface of which, in each case, is presented inwardly withrespect to hte groove 14. The movable jaw 13 is provided with anenlarged gripping head 18 while the fixed jaw 10 is likewise providedwith an enlarged gripping head 19.

The fixed jaw 10 is provided with a transversely extending integrallyformed inwardly directed boss 20 the parallel side faces of which areadapted to bear against the fiat faces of the bearing member 17 when thedevice is in assembled condition.

A transverse slot 21 is formed in the fixed jaw and extends centrallythrough the boss 20.

A movable handle 22 of U-shaped cross sectional area encompasses thehandle 12, the intermediate portion 11 and both of the jaws 10 and 13 ispivotally connected to the rearward end portion of the intermediateportion 11 by means of a bolt and nut 23 or the like. Both sides thereofare provided with a relatively short longitudinally extending slot 24adjacent the forward end thereof and a bolt and nut or like member 25extends through the slots 24, the opening 15 and the slot 21.

A spring 26 has one of its ends mounted in a transverse opening 27in'the handle 12 adjacent the pivotal point 23 and has its larger endportion, indicated at 28, bearing against the inner side of the bightportion of the movable handle 22. p

In the present invention, certain relative dimensions are of vitalimportance and should be considered as a part of the invention. I havederived a formula which will assist a manufacturer in constructing thewrench of the present invention in such manner that it will havesufficient holding power and yet will not have intolerably highstresses. The formula is:

In the formula E is the distance from the center of one bearing to thecenter of the other bearing in thedirection of jaw travel. A is thedistance from the rear end of the nut engaging jaw faces to the face ofthe nearest bearing memberin a direction parallel to the jaw faces. B isthe distance between the faces of the bearing members in a directionparallel to the jaw faces. These elements are indicated graphically inFIGURE 6. Also, C is the minimum jaw opening.

The depth of the bearing members parallel to the jaws is very important.To increase the depths of these members would tend to rotate the movablejaw inward and might decrease E by as much as four times the change inthe bearing member depths. To decrease the bearing member depths wouldhave an opposite effect. Therefore, after the principal parts of awrench have been made in accordance with the formula, bearing membersizes should be selected which will cause the jaws to be parallel when anut is tightly engaged. In construction slight errors may be made in thewidths of boss 20 and groove 14. Correct selection of bearing membersizes will nullify such errors.

It will be noted that the two points of resistance to rotation of thejaws relative to each other are th centers of the two bearing members17. These two points may be at any desired distance apart. However, thetwo points of resistance in a given wrench of this type will remain thesame distance apart as the movable jaw travels toward and away from thefixed jaw. It will be apparent that the bearing stresses will bedistributed uniformly over the entire flat bearing surface of each ofthe bearing members 17 and it will also be seen that the development oflarge loads without intolerably high stresses is accomplished by the useof bearings having arcuate faces mounted in arcuate openings as abovedescribed thus allowing the bearings free rotation in their niches tothereby equalize the load.

In operation, it will be apparent that as the movable handle 22 is movedtoward the fixed handle 12 by the customary hand gripping of the same,that the forward portion of the handle 22 will move the pivot member 25to the left as viewed in FIGURES 1 and thus causing the pivot member 25to move upwardly in the relatively short groove 24 and to the left inthe relatively long groove 21 in the fixed handle. During this process,it will be apparent that the bearing members 17 will have their inner orflat faces in bearing relation to the sides of the boss member 20 thusenforcing the movable jaw 13 and consequently the gripping heads 18 and19 to remain in constant parallel relation to each other, The arcuaterear faces of the bearing members 17 will assist in properly aligningthe flat faces thereof with the flat faces of the boss member 20.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising fixed and movable jaws, one of said jaws having aboss extending transversely from the inner face thereof, and the otherof said jaws having a transverse groove therein for the slidablereception of said boss, said jaws having openings therethrough, a rigidhandle on one of said jaws, and a movable handle pivoted to said firstmentioned handle, a slot in the inner end portion of said movablehandle, and a pivot member extending through each of said openings, anarcuate bearing member rotatably mounted in one of said jaws at eachside of said groove, said bearing members each extending partially intosaid groove and presenting their flat faces in abutting relation toopposite sides of said boss.

2. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a boss extending transversely fromthe inner face of said fixed jaw, a movable jaw having a transversegroove therein for the slidable reception of said boss, said fixed jawhaving a transverse slot formed therein and extending centrally throughsaid boss, said movable jaw having an opening therethrough, a handleformed integrally with said fixed jaw, a bifurcated movable handlepivoted to said first men- 4 tioned handle, a pair of longitudinal slotsin the inner end portion of said movable handle, and a pivot memberextending through said opening and said longitudinal and transverseslots, a semi-cylindrical bearing member rotatably mounted in saidmovable jaw at each side of said groove, said bearing members eachextending partially into said groove and presenting their flat faces inabutting relation to opposite sides of said boss.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said bearing members are instaggered relation to the longitudinal axis of said movable jaw.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said jaws are each provided attheir outer end portions with a laterally enlarged gripping head, saidheads being in opposed relation to each other.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein a spring has one of its endportions mounted in said fixed handle and its other end portion bearingagainst the inner side of said bifurcated movable handle.

6. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw with a boss extending therefrom, amovable jaw with a groove transversely slidably associated with saidfixed jaw, a handle integrally connected to said fixed jaw, and amovable handle pivoted to said first mentioned handle and slidably andpivotally connected to said movable jaw, a semi-cylindrical bearingmember rotatably mounted in said movable jaw at each side of saidgroove, said bearing members each extending partially into said grooveand presenting their fiat faces in abutting relation to opposite sidesof said boss, Esaid bearing members being in staggered relation to thelongitudinal axis of said movable jaw, said jaws being each provided attheir outer end portions with a laterally enlarged gripping head, saidheads being in opposed relation to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,740 1/1898 Pusey 8l354 X666,433 l/ll Odegaard 8l36l X 2,469,630 10/1923 Egg 81-126 2,399,4974/1946 Melchers 81-361 2,836,999 6/1958 Ly 8l361 WILLIAM FELDMAN,Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

1. A WRENCH COMPRISING FIXED AND MOVABLE JAWS, ONE OF SAID JAWS HAVING ABOSS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM THE INNER FACE THEREOF, AND THE OTHEROF SAID JAWS HAVING A TRANSVERSE GROOVE THEREIN FOR THE SLIDABLERECEPTION OF SAID BOSS, SAID JAWS HAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, A RIGIDHANDLE ON ONE OF SAID JAWS, AND A MOVABLE HANDLE PIVOTED TO SAID FIRSTMENTIONED HANDLE, A SLOT IN THE INNER END PORTION OF SAID MOVABLEHANDLE, AND PIVOT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, ANARCUATE BEARING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN ONE OF SAID JAWS AT EACHSIDE OF SAID GROOVE, SAID BEARING MEMBERS EACH EXTENDING PARTIALLY INTOSAID GROOVE AND PRESENTING THEIR FLAT FACES IN ABUTTING RELATION TOOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOSS.